Comments on: Baby on the Way: Preparing for Changes in Work-Life Balance

By: Articles and Blog Posts Worth Reading Curated from the ModernMami.com Community — ModernMami™.com

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:40:09 +0000

[...] “in order” for when I take some time off. You may remember that I have a loose plan for preparing for the upcoming changes in our family’s work-life balance. I’ve definitely had to slow down the last few weeks as I get further along in the pregnancy [...]

By: modernmami

modernmami — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:02:00 +0000

Great advice, Amanda! I do realize how important it is to be sure she has
some 1 on 1 time after the baby arrives. Thanks!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 04:49:00 +0000

Mel, it sounds like you’ve got everything covered. =)

Baby Girl is going to be a great help, I just know it! It’s easier when the older one is “old enough” – old enough to be independent, and old enough to be helpful. I do recommend, a few weeks into the “adjustment” process, spending some mommy-firstborn time with her. Leave the baby home with hubby and take her out for a bit, even if it’s just for ice cream or to run an errand. I did that with my big guy a few times, even if it was just having him accompany me to the grocery store while hubby stayed home with a napping baby. They have you to yourself for a little while, just like “old times”.

By: modernmami

modernmami — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:56:00 +0000

It’s so great to hear all this! I am feeling better about it already. You
guys have to help make sure I get back to my “normal” life quickly.

By: Roxana A. Soto

Roxana A. Soto — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:45:00 +0000

Mel,
It will definitely take some adjustment getting used to having a baby in the house again after all these years, but I agree with what everyone else has said so far. I KNOW your baby girl will be SO much help, like Tracy is saying. My daughter has been since the day her brother was born 14 months ago.
I also agree that it’s much easier the second time around. Even if you feel like you’ve forgotten, once you hold him for the first time, everything will come rushing back. I found that I was able to fall back into my “normal” life much quicker the second time around. You’re not a rookie anymore, so I guess that makes sense!
I can’t wait to “meet” your little man and I’m sure after the initial shock of having a newborn at home again wears off, all will be fine!

By: modernmami

modernmami — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:35:00 +0000

Thanks for the tips! I’m hoping I’ll find the same to be true, though at this moment, I feel like I don’t remember much about taking care of a baby. LOL

And I do imagine my baby girl will be a big help as well.

By: Latinaish

Latinaish — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:38:00 +0000

Sounds like a good plan – and I’m not sure why, but I found that the second child didn’t complicate things that much for me. I think I was just more prepared and being a mother for a few years already with the first had taught me a lot about priorities, efficiency and multi-tasking. Not to mention, the older child is such a HUGE help. My older son used to love running to get things for me and it saved a lot of time. He’d run and get me a fresh diaper from upstairs or whatever the baby needed.

The only thing I remembered struggling with was finding time to nap. With the first baby, you can nap when they nap. With the second one, your oldest will be wanting to spend one-on-one time with you and play when the baby is put down mid-day…. If you can’t get your oldest to take a nap with you, see if they’ll agree to watch a favorite movie with you, (and you can fall asleep next to them, though they’ll wake up up every couple minutes. LOL.)

By: modernmami

modernmami — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 17:08:00 +0000

Thanks, Marcela. I will try my best to ask for help and accept help. It’s so hard sometimes, but you’re right. It will definitely help.

By: modernmami

modernmami — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 17:04:00 +0000

Thanks so much Rachel!

By: Rachel White

Rachel White — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:46:00 +0000

Although I do not have any recco’s since I only have one child as of now, I think the guidelines you have set forth are going to work wonders. I wish you all the best!